P3.65-B irrigation project starts next year
URDANETA CITY – The construction of a P3. 65-billion irrigation project that will increase the cropping intensity in irrigated areas in the Lower Agno RiverIrrigation System (RIS) is finally expected to start early next year.
Engr. Vicente Vicmudo, regional manager of the National Irrigation Administration of Region 1, had advised Engr. Angelito Miguel, project manager of LARIS Extension Project (LARISEP) in Rosales last month about suspension of planting season for dry crop up to June 2019 to make way for various construction along the main canals of Lower Agno River Irrigation System.
About 2,500 hectares will not be planted this dry crop season affecting more than 4,000 farmers, Vicmudo said.
Cropping intensity refers to the number of times a certain portion of land is irrigated in a year.
Vicmudo told local newsmen Tuesday the project will be beneficial in the succeeding years to the affected farmers once it is finished because the LARIS’ facilities will be modernized and there will be line canals to enable farmers to maximize the use of water.
One aspect of the project must be completed in a year’s time but the whole project will be finished in three years, he said. If irrigation operation in the affected areas is not suspended, the project will not be completed in two or three year’s time, he pointed out.
He said the farmers decided to support the suspension because they understood it would mean better operations in the future he said.
Theaffected areas covered are Rosales, Sto. Tomas, Alcala, Bautista in Pangasinan, San Manuel and Moncada in Tarlac and Cuyapo, Nueva Ecija.
The suspension of irrigation delivery is for the coming dry season only because the most important aspect that would be constructed is the intake structure atop the facility. It has a major gate that must be completed immediately so that irrigation is continuous in the succeeding years, Vicmudo said.
Hesaid five metric tons equivalent to 100 cavans per year multiplied by 2,280actual number of hectares that will not be irrigated will result in more orless 10,000 metric tons of rice that would be lost.
Affected farmers have volunteered to plant other crops like monggo and asked assistance from NIA if they can be given shallow tube wells to irrigate their farms, he added. (PhilStar Wire Service)
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